Government admits its childcare rebate needs an overhaul

CHILDCARE workers are pushing Prime Minister Tony Abbott to increase funding to the sector, after the Government admitted its childcare rebate scheme needed a major overhaul.

United Voice national secretary David O'Byrne renewed the push for national childcare minimum standards to be maintained, citing "overwhelming support" from the public.

"Saving the national quality standards is a huge win for parents, educators, and early childhood experts," Mr O'Byrne said. "But most of all it's a win for children because a high-quality early childhood sector gives them the best start in life.

"We have preserved quality and now we need to see Tony Abbott's plan on affordability and preventing 180 staff leaving the sector every week."

Mr O'Byrne said childcare workers' wages would be a major issue at the election.

"If Tony Abbott wants to save his leadership, his next step should be saving parents' money on child care and fixing educators' wages," he said.

"On behalf of Australia's young children and the 153,000 early childhood educators who work so hard to give them the best start in life, I hope he'll use his National Press Club speech (today) to finally do the right thing."

Sydney early childhood teacher Shannon Livesly said the Government needed to recognise childcare workers as professionals.

"The pay scales don't reflect our qualifications or the sheer responsibility of what we do," Ms Livesly said.